Cholesterol Journal Articles

Record 12841 to 12860

The relationship between thyrotropin and low density lipoprotein cholesterol is modified by insulin sensitivity in healthy euthyroid subjects
Bakker, S. J., J. C. ter Maaten, et al. (2001), J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86(3): 1206-11.
Abstract: High levels of TSH are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Many cardiovascular risk factors cluster within the insulin resistance syndrome. It is not known whether levels of TSH cluster as well. We conducted this research to test the hypothesis that TSH, insulin sensitivity, and levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are interdependent in euthyroid subjects. Levels of TSH, free thyroid hormone, and serum lipids were measured in fasting serum samples taken before performance of a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to assess insulin sensitivity in 46 healthy euthyroid subjects with a mean TSH of 1.8 +/- 0.7 mU/L. Significant age- and sex-adjusted partial correlations of TSH with LDL-C (r = 0.48; P < 0.01) and HDL-C (r = -0.36; P < 0.05) were observed. TSH was not significantly correlated with insulin sensitivity or fasting triglyceride concentrations. In line with these results, we found the associations of TSH with LDL-C and HDL-C to be independent of insulin sensitivity. However, we observed significant effect-modification of the association of TSH with LDL-C by insulin sensitivity (P = 0.02). This effect-modification implies a range of associations of TSH with LDL-C that varies from absent in insulin-sensitive subjects to strongly positive in insulin-resistant subjects. We conclude that the increased cardiovascular risk associated with subclinical hypothyroidism seems to extend itself into the normal range of thyroid function. Importantly, the effect-modification of the association of TSH with LDL-C by insulin sensitivity suggests that insulin-resistant subjects are most susceptible to this increased risk.

The relationship between urinary albumin excretion rate and serum cholesterol in primary glomerular disease
Warwick, G. L., J. G. Fox, et al. (1994), Clin Nephrol 41(3): 135-7.
Abstract: The relationship between urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) and serum cholesterol was investigated in a group of 100 patients with primary glomerular disease. Patients were classified into four groups according to AER: 1. normal < 30 mg/24 h; 2. microalbuminuria 30-300 mg/24 h; 3. proteinuria 300-3000 mg/24 h; 4. nephrotic > 3000 mg/24 h. Serum cholesterol values for each patient were compared with the mean of two healthy controls matched for age, sex and weight. Although the albuminuric group had significantly increased serum cholesterol concentrations compared to controls (6.58 mmol/l sd 1.81 v. 5.91 sd 0.88; paired t, p < 0.003), this was almost entirely explained by the increase in the group with AER > 3000 mg/24 h (8.47 mmol/l sd 2.43 v. 6.18 sd 0.61; paired t, p < 0.02). However, there was a relationship between the log transformed values for serum cholesterol and AER which persisted even when those with AER > 3000 mg/day were excluded. These data suggest that albuminuria less than the nephrotic range has a minor influence on serum cholesterol in patients with primary glomerular disease.

The relationship between weight and response to cholesterol-lowering diets in women
Hannah, J. S., K. A. Jablonski, et al. (1997), Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 21(6): 445-50.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine whether factors related to body weight might influence the cholesterol lowering response to diet. DESIGN: Run-In diet followed by crossover to low fat diets; average response is reported. SUBJECTS: Sixty-three subjects (30 men and 33 women) with moderately elevated plasma cholesterol levels. MEASUREMENTS: Lipid and anthropometric measurements. Data were analyzed as a repeated measures analysis of variance with lipid lowering response in all combined cholesterol lowering diets compared to baseline. RESULTS: LDL cholesterol lowering was significantly affected by BMI in women (P = 0.01) but not in men (P = 0.54). There was also a weak effect of waist-hip (W/H) ratio on response (P = 0.127) in women, with the lower responders having a higher W/H ratio but there was no effect of W/H ratio in men (P = 0.86). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that overweight women with elevated plasma cholesterol may be less responsive to reducing their cholesterol levels with diet.

The relationship between yolk cholesterol and total lipid concentration throughout the first year of egg production in the domestic fowl
Hall, L. M. and J. C. McKay (1993), Br Poult Sci 34(3): 487-95.
Abstract: 1. Variation of egg yolk cholesterol and total lipid concentration (mg/g wet yolk) throughout the first year of egg production for the domestic fowl is described. 2. Yolk cholesterol concentration decreases between 20 and 30 weeks of age, and then remains constant until 70 weeks of age. Yolk total lipid concentration increases to a maximum at 40 weeks of age before decreasing to its original value at 60 and 70 weeks of age. 3. Bird means for yolk cholesterol and total lipid concentration are negatively related at 20 weeks of age, and essentially independent for the remainder of the first year of egg production. 4. Variation for yolk cholesterol concentration between 30 and 70 weeks of age appears to be a consequence of differences in the proportion of cholesterol to other lipid components. 5. Uptake of plasma lipoproteins characteristic of the immature bird is likely to be responsible for the high yolk cholesterol concentration at 20 weeks of age.

The relationship of APOE polymorphism and cholesterol levels in normoglycemic and diabetic subjects in a biethnic population from the San Luis Valley, Colorado
Kamboh, M. I., C. E. Aston, et al. (1995), Atherosclerosis 112(2): 145-59.
Abstract: We have determined apolipoprotein E (apoE = protein, APOE = gene) polymorphism and its relationship with total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride levels in normoglycemic Hispanics (n = 446) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) (n = 659) as well as in diabetic Hispanics (n = 235) and NHWs (n = 116) from the San Luis Valley, Colorado. Effects were estimated separately for each group, and within each group men and women were analyzed separately; women were further categorized into pre- and post-menopausal status. The distribution of the APOE genotype pattern was comparable between the NHW normoglycemics and diabetics but it was significantly different among Hispanic normoglycemics and diabetics (P < 0.005). In the normoglycemic sample the APOE allele frequencies were significantly different between the two ethnic groups: the APOE*2 (0.09 vs. 0.05; P < 0.01) and APOE*4 (0.15 vs. 0.09; P < 0.002) allele frequencies were higher while the APOE*3 (0.76 vs. 0.86; P < 0.0001) allele frequency was lower in NHWs than in Hispanics. Significant variability among the three common APOE genotypes (3-2, 3-3, and 4-3) was observed for TC and LDL-C in normoglycemic Hispanic women (P = 0.09 and P = 0.03) but not in Hispanic men. In normoglycemic NHWs, however, significant mean differences among APOE genotypes were observed for TC and LDL-C in both women (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001) and men (P = 0.009 and P = 0.01). In Hispanic females, the APOE polymorphism accounted for 5.6% and 7.6% of the phenotypic variance for TC and LDL-C, respectively. In NHW females, the APOE polymorphism explained 10.2% of the phenotypic variance for TC and LDL-C, and in NHW males these values were 6.2% and 7.5%, respectively. There was no evidence of physiologic interaction between the APOE polymorphism and menopause status in affecting TC and LDL-C in NHW women (P = 0.65 and P = 0.55) but a suggestion of interaction was observed in Hispanic women for TC and LDL-C (P = 0.11 and 0.07). After the Hispanic women were stratified into pre- and postmenopausal groups, the effect of the APOE polymorphism on TC and LDL-C was significant only in the premenopausal group. Among diabetics, no significant effect of the APOE polymorphism was seen on cholesterol levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The relationship of cholesterol (CHO) and triglycerides (TG) in VLDL, LDL, and VLDL subfractions by agarose gel electrophoresis, using CHO and TG dual staining (AG-CHO, TG staining)
Miyake, N. and K. Iizuka (2002), Rinsho Byori 50(6): 605-12.
Abstract: The measurement of CHO and TG concentrations in three lipoprotein subfractions (VLDL, LDL, and HDL) are useful to estimate qualitative change of lipoproteins. This method, CHO and TG dual staining using agarose gel electrophoresis (AG-CHO, TG staining), is conventional and the results correlated highly with ultracentrifugation. Using this method, we measured CHO and TG concentrations of VLDL, LDL, and HDL subfractions in 244 patients after an overnight fast. All cases were stratified to 4 groups, normolipidemia (LDL-CHO < 160 mg/dl, sTG < 150 mg/dl, n = 111), type IIa(n = 34), IIb(n = 39), and IV(n = 36), according to hyperlipidemia types. Furthermore, normolipidemia with low HDL cases (HDL-CHO < 45 mg/dl, n = 24) distinguished from HDL-CHO > or = 45 mg/dl, normolipidemia cases(n = 111). Between serum TCHO and LDL-CHO, serum TG and VLDL-CHO, TG showed positive correlation(n = 0.895, 0.971), particularly serum TG and VLDL-TG showed strong positive in all lipidemia types. However, serum TG and VLDL-CHO was strongly positive in type IIb and IV(r = 0.825, 0.823), but weakly positive in type IIa(r = 0.459). HDL-CHO showed no correlation with sTCHO and sTG. The correlation of CHO and TG with each subfraction was strongly positive in VLDL(r = 0.910), weakly positive(r = 0.49) in LDL, and showed the no correlation in HDL in all cases. These correlation varied in lipidemia types, IIb and IV were strongly positive(r = 0.886, 0.838) in VLDL subfraction, but nomolipidemia cases(r = 0.555) showed significant weaker correlation(p < 0.0001). In the LDL subfraction, IIb and IV showed no correlation(r = 0.009, 0.163) between CHO and TG. The CHO/TG ratio of three subfractions were widely distributed, and type IIb and IV distributed to lower range than normolipidemia and/or type IIa lipidemia in three subfractions. From these results, dual measurement of LDL-CHO and LDL-TG are useful to estimate qualitative change in the LDL subfraction. For instance, in high LDL-CHO or LDL-TG with low CHO/TG cases, we could suspect the presence of IDL-rich particles in the LDL subfraction or small particle LDL cases. HDL-CHO and CHO/TG show positive(r = 0.714), HDL-CHO and VLDL-TG, VLDL-CHO showed weakly negative correlations(r = 0.500, 0.487), showing that high HDL-CHO level cases tended to have a CHO rich, and low VLDL-TG concentration. These results indicated that qualitative change in lipoproteins could be clarified by measurement of the TG concentration, in addition to CHO concentrations in three subfractions. We conclude that AG-CHO, TG staining method is useful for diagnosis and monitoring of dyslipidemia.

The relationship of daily stress and health-related behaviors to adolescents' cholesterol levels
Coleman, C. A., A. G. Friedman, et al. (1998), Adolescence 33(130): 447-60.
Abstract: It has been well established that some of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease are related to lifestyle, that is, behaviors that are potentially modifiable. Although studies have identified psychosocial stress as a factor associated with elevated cholesterol levels in adults, this relationship has not been thoroughly examined in adolescents. The present study investigated the relationship between daily life events and total cholesterol levels among 104 high school students. The contributions of health-related behaviors, such as dietary patterns, physical activity, smoking, and television viewing, were also examined. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that scores on a scale of daily life events explained a significant portion of the variance in cholesterol measurements. However, when the sample was stratified by gender, this effect remained significant for adolescent females but not males. Overall, females reported a greater degree of negative health behaviors than did males. Implications of these findings are discussed.

The relationship of egg cholesterol to serum cholesterol, serum calcium, feed consumption, and dietary cholecalciferol
Sloan, D. R., R. H. Harms, et al. (1994), Poult Sci 73(3): 472-5.
Abstract: Hy-Line W36 hens, 20 wk of age, were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments consisting of cholecalciferol at (0, 550, or 2,750 IU/kg of finished feed). Serum calcium and cholesterol, yolk cholesterol, and egg specific gravity were measured. Feed consumption, egg production, and egg weight measurements were also recorded. Feed consumption, egg production, and egg weights were initially reduced when cholecalciferol was omitted from the diet. These effects disappeared by the beginning of the fourth 28-d period. Egg cholesterol concentrations among treatments followed no consistent pattern. A positive correlation was noted between serum calcium and serum cholesterol.

The relationship of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to obesity, drinking and smoking habits
Miyao, M., M. Furuta, et al. (1993), Nagoya J Med Sci 55(1-4): 65-70.
Abstract: Subjects were a total of 726 Japanese male transport service workers between the ages of 35 and 50. They were analyzed for obesity and drinking or smoking habits in relation to their HDL-cholesterol level and total cholesterol concentration. The cases were 100 low HDL-cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dl) and 121 high total cholesterol (greater than 230 mg/dl) subjects. We used a multiple logistic regression analysis. As for abnormally high total cholesterol, it was determined that the odds ratios at 40, 45, and 50 years of age were 1.95, 2.23, and 2.65, respectively, when 35-year-olds were considered the baseline. Abnormally high total cholesterol showed an odds ratio of 0.27 among thin subjects with a Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 21.0, when subjects with a standard BMI were calculated as the baseline. With reference to low HDL-cholesterol, the odds ratio for lean subjects was 0.30 against those who had standard habitus, while subjects with a BMI of more than 25.1 had an odds ratio of more than double. Compared with nondrinkers, low HDL-cholesterol exhibited odds ratios of 0.16 and 0.23, respectively, for moderate and heavy drinkers. In cases of low HDL-cholesterol, the odds ratios for mild and heavy smokers were 1.91 and 2.27, respectively, versus nonsmokers.

The relationship of total serum cholesterol to coronary heart disease in older men. The Italian rural areas of the Seven Countries Study
Menotti, A. (1992), Ann Epidemiol 2(1-2): 107-11.
Abstract: The relationship of serum cholesterol to the development of major coronary events (CHD) was studied in Italian rural cohorts of adult men aged 40-59 (n = 1672) and of older men aged 65-79 (n = 752) followed up for 5 years. In adult men both univariate and multivariate analysis (the latter with 4 or 5 covariates fed into the Cox model) showed a direct and significant relationship of cholesterol to CHD. In older men the univariate analysis confirmed a direct and significant relationship; for the multivariate analysis none of the considered factors was significantly predictive.

The relationships between cholesterol and arterial pressure in the Malaga-86 study. Something more than a casual association?
Aranda, P., J. Aranda, et al. (1990), Rev Clin Esp 187(1): 13-7.
Abstract: The frequent association of this vascular risk factors implies not just a potentiation of the vascular risk, but also the need for a wider therapeutical approach on this patients not only regarding the control of the arterial hypertension but also other risk factors. After a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of various vascular risk factors in the province of Malaga (Spain), we analysed the results as for the cholesterolemia and blood pressure in normotensives and hypertensives. In the hypertensive population we observed a tendency to present a higher levels of cholesterol as well as a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (p less than 0.001); on the other hand, hypercholesterolemic people versus normocholesterolemics showed similar data related to their blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension. Finally we discussed the likely etiopathogenetic interrelationships between both vascular risk factors.

The relationships of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) with high density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting insulin in healthy men
Kumagai, S., H. Sasaki, et al. (1993), Ann Physiol Anthropol 12(5): 297-300.
Abstract: The relationships of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and fasting insulin (IRI) were investigated in healthy employed men (n = 235). In simple correlation analysis, the SHBG was positively related to total cholesterol and HDL-C, and negatively related to IRI. There were no relationships among SHBG, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose. In multiple linear regression analysis, SHBG was one of determinant of HDL-C, but not IRI. From these results, it was suggested that SHBG was one of the determinants of HDL-C level in healthy men.

The relationships of vigorous exercise, alcohol, and adiposity to low and high high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels
Williams, P. T. (2004), Metabolism 53(6): 700-9.
Abstract: While vigorous exercise, alcohol, and weight loss are all known to increase high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), it is not known whether these interventions increase low HDL as effectively as has been demonstrated for normal HDL. This report tests the hypothesis that there may be differences in the calculated response of men and women with low versus high HDL-C to exercise, alcohol, and weight loss across the spectrum of HDL-C levels. Physican-supplied medical data from 7,288 men and 2,326 women were divided into deciles of self-reported vigorous exercise, alcohol intake, body mass index (BMI), or body circumferences. Within each decile we determined the percentiles of the HDL distributions and average running distance, alcohol intake, BMI, or body circumference. Simple least-squares regression analysis was then used to estimate the slope for kth HDL percentile (k = 5%, 6%.95%) versus running distance, alcohol intake, BMI, or body circumference across deciles. Bootstrap resampling was used to estimate standard errors and statistical significance for the regression lines. In both sexes, the increase in HDL-C per unit alcohol intake was at least twice as great at the 95th as at the 5th percentile of the HDL distribution. There was also a significant graded increase from the 5th to the 95th HDL percentile for the slopes relating HDL to exercise (km run) and alcohol intake. Men's HDL-C declined in association with fatness (BMI, waist, and chest circumference) more sharply at the 95th than at the 5th percentile of the HDL distribution. The results of this study suggest that the effects of physical activity, alcohol, and weight reduction on HDL-C levels may be, to a large extent, dependent on the initial level with the greatest improvement achieved in subjects with high HDL and the least improvement in those having low HDL-C levels.

The relative influence of secondary versus primary prevention using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel II guidelines
Goldman, L., P. Coxson, et al. (1999), J Am Coll Cardiol 34(3): 768-76.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to project the population-wide effect of full implementation of the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) II guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). BACKGROUND: The ATP II has proposed guidelines for cholesterol reduction, but the long-term epidemiologic influence of its components has not been fully examined. METHODS: We used a calibrated, validated simulation of the U.S. population, aged 35 to 84 years to estimate the potential for the NCEP guidelines, under varying assumptions, to reduce coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality and overall mortality from the years 2000 to 2020. RESULTS: Primary prevention would yield only about half of the benefits of secondary prevention despite requiring nearly twice as many person-years of treatment. The projected increase in quality-adjusted years of life per year of treatment for secondary prevention was 3- to 12-fold higher than for primary prevention. To yield population-wide epidemiologic benefits equivalent to NCEP recommendations for secondary prevention, primary prevention would require a nearly sixfold increase in the number of persons treated compared with NCEP recommendations. All benefits of universal success of the NCEP primary prevention "screen and treat" guidelines could be achieved by a 11 mg/dl (8%) population-wide reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among persons without preexisting coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: The NCEP guidelines for targeted primary prevention can be a useful component of a rational public health strategy, but only as a complement to the more appealing strategies of secondary prevention and "across-the-board" programs to lower all cholesterol levels.

The relative role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in coronary artery disease: evidence from large-scale statin and fibrate trials
Sacks, F. M. (2001), Am J Cardiol 88(12A): 14N-18N.
Abstract: Statin therapy has been remarkably successful in reducing coronary events and improving survival. Reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the paramount mechanism for the benefit of statins. Although the relation between reduction of risk of coronary artery disease and pretreatment lipid levels has not been fully resolved, a feature of statin therapy emerging from previous large-scale trials is the diminished benefit when the baseline level of LDL-C is low (eg, <125 mg/dL). Increases in levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with statin therapy are associated with mild reductions in coronary events, indicating that HDL-C is an important element. However, the risk of low HDL-C is not altered by statin therapy, in marked contrast with LDL-C. Because most coronary events have not been prevented in the statin trials, nonstatin lipid therapy, including fibrates, may be necessary to further reduce the unacceptably high rate of coronary artery disease.

The relative usefulness of automated apolipoprotein A-I and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol assays as markers for coronary artery disease
Levinson, S. S. and S. G. Wagner (1994), Am J Clin Pathol 101(1): 104-8.
Abstract: Research studies have shown that apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) is a better marker for coronary artery disease (CAD) than high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Yet, it is unclear whether assays for apolipoprotein A-I, which is part of macromolecular lipoprotein complex, can perform as well when measured by routine automated clinical laboratory techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare automated apolipoprotein A-I assays with HDLC as a marker for CAD. The authors studied two groups of angiographically documented men, aged 44-70 years, 42 with CAD and 123 without CAD in an unmatched, controlled study. Standard clinical laboratory techniques for assaying HDLC, and automated kit rate immunonephelometric, end point immunonephelometric, and immunoturbidimetric assays for apolipoprotein A-I were used. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was a better marker than apolipoprotein A-I, according to the Mann Whitney test; HDLC also showed better diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value. Using a precipitation method, HDL3 was a better marker than HDL2, but not as good as total HDLC. The authors concluded that HDLC remains the best routine single CAD marker commonly available for evaluation of HDL status in a high-risk population.

The response of serum and hepatic lipids and the aortic wall to different levels of dietary cholesterol: a comparative study between hyperlipidemia-and- atherosclerosis-prone quail and commercially available quail
Inoue, Y., T. Toda, et al. (1995), Tohoku J Exp Med 175(1): 1-13.
Abstract: A hyperlipidemia-and-atherosclerosis-prone (LAP) quail model was developed by dietary cholesterol feeding through genetic selection of commercially available (CA) Japanese quail. The response of serum lipids and the aortic wall to dietary cholesterol feeding was compared in CA and LAP quails. Ten groups were fed a combination diet with different levels of cholesterol and corn oil for 12 weeks. In CA quail, dietary feeding of cholesterol only failed to induce significant hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic lesion. The respective optimal dietary levels of cholesterol and corn oil to induce hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic lesion, were 2% and 15%, respectively. Ad-libitum feeding of only 0.5% cholesterol without corn oil induced significant hypercholesterolemia and aortic atherosclerosis in LAP quail. The main proliferating cellular component of the aortic atherosclerotic lesion was phenotypically transformed fibroblasts from medial fibroblasts. These results suggest that the LAP quail is a useful animal model for the study of atherosclerosis.

The reversal of the effects on HMG-CoA reductase activity and microsome lipid composition in chick livers caused by short-period cholesterol feeding
Alejandre, M. J., M. Garcia-Gonzalez, et al. (1991), Life Sci 49(5): 361-5.
Abstract: Chicks of different ages were fed on a cholesterol diet for 48 hours and then switched to a standard diet. HMG-CoA reductase activity and microsomal cholesterol levels, altered by the cholesterol diet, returned to control values in younger chicks after 48 hours on the standard diet. This study clearly shows that early age is an important factor to be taken into account when considering the reversibility of cholesterol-induced membrane alterations.

The RICO rat (genetically hypercholesteremic): a good model for testing a food substance or a drug specific for a key enzyme of cholesterol metabolism
Lutton, C. (1999), Reprod Nutr Dev 39(4): 481-95.
Abstract: The genetically hypercholesterolemic RICO rat: a good model for testing a food substance or a drug specific for a key enzyme involved in cholesterol metabolism? The genetically hypercholesterolemic RICO rat, whose cholesterolemia is situated between 1.3 and 1.5 mg x mL(-1), possibly reaching 2 mg x mL(-1), after the addition of cholesterol to its food, possesses a different lipoprotein spectrum than man, because approximatively 70% of the plasma cholesterol is carried by HDL (28% of which are carried by the light HDL1 subfraction, rich in apolipoproteinE (apoE). The effects of certain substances in food (carbohydrates, cholesterol, allyldisulfide, etc.) or drugs (ethinylestradiol, streptozotocin, statins, inhibitors of ACAT, etc.) on the cholesterolemia of the rat were studied, in relation to certain important parameters of cholesterol metabolism (LDLr, VLDL liver secretion, activities of lipolytic enzymes: LPL, HL, etc.). The increase in a number of LDL receptors (LDLr) in the RICO rat, induced by ethinylestradiol, streptozotocin, etc., provokes an important decrease in the apoE-rich HDL concentration, filtered out by its receptors. This decrease is observed in man for LDL. Simvastatin, which stimulates LDLr in man and not in rat, lowers the level of LDL in man and has no effect on the cholesterolemia of the RICO rat. In rat and man, the concentration of plasma cholesterol is inversely proportional to the rate of cholesterol synthesis in the organism and to its plasma turnover rate. The concentration of cholesterol in the plasma carried by the HDL1 of the rat, is however, proportional to hepatic cholesterogenesis. This fraction is positively correlated to the activity of hepatic lipase (HL) and negatively to the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), released by heparin. These data demonstrate the importance of the liver and lipolytic enzymes in the intraplasmatic hydrolysis of HDL3 (precursors of HDL1), murine particles that can be considered similar to human LDL.

The risk of acute suicidality in psychiatric inpatients increases with low plasma cholesterol
Papassotiropoulos, A., B. Hawellek, et al. (1999), Pharmacopsychiatry 32(1): 1-4.
Abstract: Several studies suggest that the reduction of total cholesterol in blood by lipid-lowering agents is accompanied by a decrease in the incidence of coronary heart disease, but not in total mortality. Likewise, epidemiological studies show that low total cholesterol concentrations appear to be associated with an increased risk of death from suicide and injuries. There is little information with respect to acute suicidality and cholesterol in psychiatric inpatients; therefore the aim of the present study was to examine exactly this relation between plasma cholesterol and acute suicidality. The study comprised 45 acutely suicidal psychiatric inpatients, 95 nonsuicidal inpatients with affective disorder, and 20 healthy subjects. Psychopathological measures (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck's Suicide Intent Scale) were established in these patients as well as the plasma concentrations of cholesterol in patients and healthy subjects. The most important finding of this study is that the risk of acute suicidality decreases with increasing total cholesterol levels irrespective of age, gender, and nutritional status (i.e., body mass index). Comparison of total cholesterol levels between age- and sex-matched suicidal and nonsuicidal patients with affective disorder supports this observation: Despite the slightly higher body mass index, suicidal patients have significantly lower cholesterol levels than nonsuicidal patients. Our findings support the notion that acute suicidality is associated with low plasma cholesterol; this observation needs to be further studied in the context of a biological marker for suicide risk.

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